Charlie Rutter, a former Cardiff City footballer who went on to run a pet shop in the Central Market for 45 years, has died aged 84.

Charlie Rutter, a former Cardiff City footballer who went on to run a pet shop in the Central Market for 45 years, has died aged 84.

Rutter was the Bluebirds right-back from 1949 to 1959, while he later ran the Birdland Pet Supermarket in the market. When he retired eight years ago, Rutter kept two blue budgies – and named them Lennie and Lawrence after the City manager who had led the club into the Championship a year earlier.

East Londoner Rutter came to Cardiff City via the West Country. His family left London during the Second World War. Later recounting those tragic events, Rutter said: “There was heavy bombing of the area we lived in. My brother was killed and we were evacuated to Minehead.

“I was around 15-years-old and soon played for Plymouth Argyle’s wartime league team. But whenever the Royal Navy were in port there were professional footballers on their ships and they were in the team ahead of me.

“Then I played for Taunton Town and was spotted by Cardiff City. The manager, Cyril Spiers, invited me for a trial and I remember playing in a Welsh League game on the side of a mountain at Gwynfi.

“We were beaten 6-0, I played right-half and the fellow I was marking scored two or three goals.

“I thought that was the end of my chances with Cardiff, but the manager signed me and I stayed eight years.”

Rutter switched to right-back and played in most of the Bluebirds’ matches as they were promoted to Division One during 1951-52.

Alf Sherwood was first choice at left-back, while Rutter battled it out with Ron Stitfall on the right. Rutter made a total of 135 first team appearances for the Bluebirds.

Rutter joined Exeter City and later became player-manager of Sittingbourne in Kent, but returned to Cardiff in the early 1960s and ran his pet store over four and a half decades.

He lived in Dinas Powys and said, when he retired from his shop: “I’ll miss all the old-timers coming in reminiscing about my time at Cardiff City.

“I stayed in Cardiff after leaving football as I had always liked it here. I set up the store as my brother was a birds expert and there was almost no-one doing this back then.”

Rutter – during 1950 when he played in a B international against Holland – and Jay Bothroyd, against France 60 years later, are the only Cardiff City players to have been selected by England while at the club.

Only a short time before the Munich Air Crash, Rutter played for Cardiff City against Manchester United, who were on their way to the 1956-57 Division One title.

Among his opponents that day was the legendary Duncan Edwards.

Charlie Rutter’s funeral will be held at Llanishen Church on Friday, October 26, at 9.45am.

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